Photo : AP
NIAS Area Studies
AFRICA MONITOR
Photo : AP
IN BRIEF
by Anu Maria Joseph and Apoorva Sudhakar
Democratic Republic of the Congo: Floods claim over 120 lives in Kinshasa
On 14 December, BBC reported that over 120 people had been killed in the floods and landslides in capital city Kinshasa. Major roads, including the N1 highway connecting Kinshasa to the Matadi port, are submerged. On 13 December, Prime Minister Jean-Michel Sama Lukonde visited the affected areas and said the search for more bodies was continuing. Meanwhile, President Félix Tshisekedi who is in Washington for the US-African Union summit said the floods were something that the DRC had been deploring; outlining the impact of climate change, Tshisekedi said: “The DRC is under pressure but unfortunately it's not sufficiently heard or supported.” (“Worst floods in years kill 120 people in DR Congo,” BBC, 13 December 2022)
Ethiopia: Tigray praise flow of medical supplies
On 13 December, Tigray health authorities praised the flow of medical supplies to previously war-driven northern Ethiopia following the peace deal signed between the federal government and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF). The TPLF run Tigray TV report said: “The Tigray Health Bureau has said basic medicines and medical equipment are flowing into Tigray and being distributed to health institutions following the ceasefire agreement.” The head of Tigray’s health office, Dr Amanuel Haile said: “One good news is that the first cargo plane landed last Thursday (8 December) carrying vaccines for children. We are very happy Unicef gave us the medicines it received from the Ethiopian government.” (“Ethiopia rebels praise 'flow of medical aid into Tigray',” BBC, 13 December 2022)
Somalia: IPC warns of famine early next year
On 13 December, Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) body assessment said that Somalia narrowly avoided a full scale famine this year. It added that avoiding famine doesn’t mean avoiding misery, hunger, and deaths and that millions of people living in worse humanitarian conditions would triple in 2023. This means over 700,000 people will face dire hunger unless proper assistance is provided. It further added, if the condition continues, famine could be declared as early as April 2023. ("Somalia famine narrowly avoided this year - official report," BBC, 13 December 2022)
Ghana: IMF sign agreement for USD 3 billion bailout
On 13 December, the IMF signed an initial agreement with Ghana for a bailout programme of USD 3 billion. The programme termed as the Extended Credit Facility would run for three years, formed to help Ghana in restoring its economic stability and ensure debt sustainability. In October, the country's inflation rate reached a record high to over 40 per cent. However, Ghana’s currency, the cedi, rallied against the US dollar besides losing half of its value initially this year. (“Ghana set to get $3bn IMF bailout,” BBC, 13 December 2022)
Rwanda: IMF approves USD 319 billion as climate payout
On 13 December, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) approved USD 319 billion for Rwanda through a new climate change programme, supporting the country's “ambitious agenda to build resilience to climate change and help to catalyse further financing.” Rwanda is the first African country to be funded by the Resilience and Sustainability Facility (RSF) - an IMF programme meant to support countries addressing climate change with long-term and low cost financing. (“Rwanda gets Africa's first IMF climate payout,” BBC, 13 December 2022)
Chad: 27 migrants found dead in desert
On 13 December, the International Organization for Migration said 27 migrants, including four children, had been found dead in a desert in Chad; the IOM said the migrants died of thirst after the truck they were travelling in from west-central Chad broke down. The IOM said that in the last eight years, 5,600 people have either died or gone missing while crossing the Sahara Desert to north African countries like Libya, which serve as a transit to Europe through the Mediterranean Sea. (“Bodies of 27 migrants found in Chad desert, says UN group,” ABC News, 13 December 2022)